SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged animal cruelty and have made an arrest.

Just before 10:30a.m. August 6, 2020, a Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched to the 5700 block of NW Hunter Road after a man reported a neighbor shot his 18-month-old Irish Setter, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

The dog was seriously injured and was transported for treatment at K-State. The dog is now permanently blind.

&nbsp;Just after 4:30p.m. Tuesday deputies with the Fugitive Warrants unit arrested John C. Stover, 58, of Topeka, on requested felony charges of cruelty to animals.

The case has been forwarded to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599043409583.png" alt="Stover-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Stover-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged animal cruelty and have made an arrest.Just before 10:30a.m. August 6, 2020, a Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched to the 5700 block of NW Hunter Road after a man reported a neighbor shot his 18-month-old Irish Setter, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.The dog was seriously injured and was transported for treatment at K-State. The dog is now permanently blind.&nbsp;Just after 4:30p.m. Tuesday deputies with the Fugitive Warrants unit arrested John C. Stover, 58, of Topeka, on requested felony charges of cruelty to animals.The case has been forwarded to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office&nbsp;

Kan. man arrested after neighbor's dog permanently blinded

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and have charged a suspect in the case.

On Tuesday, Matthew Small, 35, made his first court appearance and was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon in connection to the death of Roy Hayden, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On July 6, police responded to the 1500 Block of North Broadway in Wichita where they found Hayden's body in a vehicle, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Small is being held on a <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20025626">bond of $250,000</a> and is due back in court September 17, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599064385103.png" alt="Small-photo Sedgwick County." />
 <figcaption>Small-photo Sedgwick County.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and have charged a suspect in the case.On Tuesday, Matthew Small, 35, made his first court appearance and was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon in connection to the death of Roy Hayden, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On July 6, police responded to the 1500 Block of North Broadway in Wichita where they found Hayden's body in a vehicle, according to officer Charley Davidson.Small is being held on a <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20025626">bond of $250,000</a> and is due back in court September 17, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man charged in connection to body found in vehicle

TOPEKA –&nbsp;&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that beginning September 9, the state will release the names and locations of all active coronavirus outbreaks in Kansas. &nbsp;

“With our children returning to school, sports resuming, and college campuses reopening – we’re seeing the largest increase in outbreaks to date,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“By sharing where the outbreaks take place, Kansans will be better informed about the threat of COVID-19 in their schools and communities, and will be better prepared to contain and stop the spread of the virus.”

Last week, Kansas saw the highest increase in outbreaks to date, with an increase of 26 from Wednesday to Friday, and ended the week with 170 active outbreaks.

Active locations will be released when there are five or more confirmed cases associated to the location. For private businesses, the name of the business will only be released if there are 20 or more cases associated with the location. In Kansas, an outbreak is defined as two or more cases associated with one known exposure.

This information will be published weekly on Wednesdays, beginning September 9, on the COVID-19 dashboard on the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C35f9ebf7ca554b50493708d84f7b15ac%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637346737338976741&amp;sdata=xXfRiM8qQhorl7LEvPIowH6eHAObKXc%2FE1Ri82Wbess%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">KDHE website</a>, and will include the number of cases associated with each outbreak. Until now, the state has only issued press releases naming locations of outbreaks where contact tracing is not possible.

Kansas will join numerous other states already providing this information and will follow White House guidance in sharing this information on public-facing dashboards.

TOPEKA –&nbsp;&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that beginning September 9, the state will release the names and locations of all active coronavirus outbreaks in Kansas. &nbsp;“With our children returning to school, sports resuming, and college campuses reopening – we’re seeing the largest increase in outbreaks to date,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“By sharing where the outbreaks take place, Kansans will be better informed about the threat of COVID-19 in their schools and communities, and will be better prepared to contain and stop the spread of the virus.”Last week, Kansas saw the highest increase in outbreaks to date, with an increase of 26 from Wednesday to Friday, and ended the week with 170 active outbreaks.Active locations will be released when there are five or more confirmed cases associated to the location. For private businesses, the name of the business will only be released if there are 20 or more cases associated with the location. In Kansas, an outbreak is defined as two or more cases associated with one known exposure.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599066289932.png" alt="September 2, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>September 2, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>This information will be published weekly on Wednesdays, beginning September 9, on the COVID-19 dashboard on the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C35f9ebf7ca554b50493708d84f7b15ac%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637346737338976741&amp;sdata=xXfRiM8qQhorl7LEvPIowH6eHAObKXc%2FE1Ri82Wbess%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">KDHE website</a>, and will include the number of cases associated with each outbreak. Until now, the state has only issued press releases naming locations of outbreaks where contact tracing is not possible.Kansas will join numerous other states already providing this information and will follow White House guidance in sharing this information on public-facing dashboards.

 Kansas to release information on active coronavirus outbreaks

TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;– A basketball <a href="https://shs.seamanschools.org/athletics/winter/boys_basketball/coaching_staff/jeff_pierce">coach at Seaman High </a>School was charged Wednesday with sexually exploiting minors, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Jeffrey D. Pierce, 40, Topeka, is charged with two counts of producing child pornography (counts 1 and 2) and one count of possessing child pornography (count 3). The production crimes are alleged to have occurred March 10 and March 14, 2020. The possession crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 2, 2020.

&nbsp;If convicted, Pierce could face a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in federal prison on each production count, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession count. The FBI investigated, according to McAllister.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599083513354.png" alt="Pierce photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Pierce photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;– A basketball <a href="https://shs.seamanschools.org/athletics/winter/boys_basketball/coaching_staff/jeff_pierce">coach at Seaman High </a>School was charged Wednesday with sexually exploiting minors, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Jeffrey D. Pierce, 40, Topeka, is charged with two counts of producing child pornography (counts 1 and 2) and one count of possessing child pornography (count 3). The production crimes are alleged to have occurred March 10 and March 14, 2020. The possession crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 2, 2020.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599081222209.png" alt="Pierce photo Seaman USD 345" />
 <figcaption>Pierce photo Seaman USD 345</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;If convicted, Pierce could face a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in federal prison on each production count, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession count. The FBI investigated, according to McAllister.

Kan. high school coach jailed on alleged child porn charges

TOPEKA—Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), held a press briefing Wednesday afternoon to discuss the increase in Coronavirus in Kansas.

 He will be joined by Dr. Dana Hawkinson with the University of Kansas Health System.

&nbsp;The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1,328 to a total of 43,940 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 458, an increase of 12.

Governor Laura Kelly announced that beginning Wednesday, September 9, the state will begin to release the names and locations of active outbreaks in Kansas. &nbsp;

“With our children returning to school, sports resuming, and college campuses reopening – we’re seeing the largest increase in outbreaks to date,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“By sharing where the outbreaks take place, Kansans will be better informed about the threat of COVID-19 in their schools and communities, and will be better prepared to contain and stop the spread of the virus.”

TOPEKA—Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), held a press briefing Wednesday afternoon to discuss the increase in Coronavirus in Kansas.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F2609320115952111%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div> He will be joined by Dr. Dana Hawkinson with the University of Kansas Health System.&nbsp;The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1,328 to a total of 43,940 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 458, an increase of 12.Governor Laura Kelly announced that beginning Wednesday, September 9, the state will begin to release the names and locations of active outbreaks in Kansas. &nbsp;“With our children returning to school, sports resuming, and college campuses reopening – we’re seeing the largest increase in outbreaks to date,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“By sharing where the outbreaks take place, Kansans will be better informed about the threat of COVID-19 in their schools and communities, and will be better prepared to contain and stop the spread of the virus.”Last week, Kansas saw the highest increase in outbreaks to date, with an increase of 26 from Wednesday to Friday, and ended the week with 170 active outbreaks.Active locations will be released when there are five or more confirmed cases associated to the location. For private businesses, the name of the business will only be released if there are 20 or more cases associated with the location. In Kansas, an outbreak is defined as two or more cases associated with one known exposure.This information will be published weekly on Wednesdays, beginning September 9, on the COVID-19 dashboard on the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C35f9ebf7ca554b50493708d84f7b15ac%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637346737338976741&amp;sdata=xXfRiM8qQhorl7LEvPIowH6eHAObKXc%2FE1Ri82Wbess%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">KDHE website</a>, and will include the number of cases associated with each outbreak. Until now, the state has only issued press releases naming locations of outbreaks where contact tracing is not possible.Kansas will join numerous other states already providing this information and will follow White House guidance in sharing this information on public-facing dashboards.

 🎥 Dr. Lee Norman on increase in COVID-19 in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Federal officials have added a lead-contaminated southeast Kansas community to a list of hazardous waste sites eligible for cleanup through the federal Superfund program. Besides the newly added site in the town of Caney, the Environmental Protection Agency also has proposed adding another site in the southeast Kansas town of Weir to the Superfund list. 

Both communities were the scene of smelting operations a century ago. The concern is that the smelting operations caused lead particles to become airborne and settle onto area properties. Lead exposure can pose serious health risks, particularly for young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599070590288.png" alt="Downtown Caney, Kansas -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Downtown Caney, Kansas -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Federal officials have added a lead-contaminated southeast Kansas community to a list of hazardous waste sites eligible for cleanup through the federal Superfund program. Besides the newly added site in the town of Caney, the Environmental Protection Agency also has proposed adding another site in the southeast Kansas town of Weir to the Superfund list. Both communities were the scene of smelting operations a century ago. The concern is that the smelting operations caused lead particles to become airborne and settle onto area properties. Lead exposure can pose serious health risks, particularly for young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Lead-contaminated Kansas town prioritized for cleanup

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, say a woman has died and several others were injured in an exchange of gunfire. 

Police say the shooting happened Tuesday afternoon when a car pulled up to a home and several people got out to confront a person on the home's porch. Police say the group and the person on the porch exchanged gunfire. Police called to the scene found a woman in her 20s lying on the sidewalk with critical wounds. 

She was taken to a hospital, where she died. Police say at least two other people from the shooting scene showed up a hospital with injuries. Police have not released the names of the woman killed or those injured.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, say a woman has died and several others were injured in an exchange of gunfire. Police say the shooting happened Tuesday afternoon when a car pulled up to a home and several people got out to confront a person on the home's porch. Police say the group and the person on the porch exchanged gunfire. Police called to the scene found a woman in her 20s lying on the sidewalk with critical wounds. She was taken to a hospital, where she died. Police say at least two other people from the shooting scene showed up a hospital with injuries. Police have not released the names of the woman killed or those injured.

Police: Woman wounded in Kansas shooting has died

By EMILY FETSCH <a href="https://www.kac.org/">Kansas Action for Children</a>

News comes at us from all 
directions these days, but we can’t ignore a crisis that’s playing out 
in plain sight right now: Budget shortfalls faced by the state of Kansas
 and its municipalities.

The plunge in tax revenue 
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to overwhelm our state, 
leading to cuts far exceeding those that defined former Gov. Sam 
Brownback’s tenure. Education, infrastructure and public services are 
all under threat. And the children and families least able to cope with 
the consequences will bear the brunt.

Kansas Action for Children
 knows that children can thrive when they have their basic needs met. 
Through our tax dollars, Kansans support kids and families who otherwise
 would go without. That’s why budgets matter, from the tiniest town to 
the entire state.

Make no mistake, we’re grappling with a once-in-a-century health and economic crisis. <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/states-grappling-with-hit-to-tax-collections">Kansas revenue has plummeted</a>,
 creating a crisis for schools, health care and other critical services.
 The state government experienced revenue declines of more than $800 
million in fiscal year 2020, and revenue declines of a half-billion 
dollars are projected for fiscal year 2021.

Unlike the federal 
government, Kansas and other states can’t run deficits. That means we 
either make up that money — through federal aid or state taxes — or 
slash services.

But the problem isn’t just with state revenue. We also face an employment crisis. Since the pandemic started, the state has <a href="https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ks.htm">lost 13,100 public sector jobs</a>. The National Education Association has estimated that Kansas could lose <a href="https://educationvotes.nea.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Revised-NEA-Estimates-in-Support-of-the-HEROES-Act-06-06-2020.pdf?_ga=2.17671737.1424969520.1591579607-1012899167.1494591151">roughly 32,100 jobs</a> by the end of FY 2022 as a result of the decline in the state general revenues that fund education.

Absent federal action, these job losses could get much worse. <a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/without-federal-aid-to-state-and-local-governments-5-3-million-workers-will-likely-lose-their-jobs-by-the-end-of-2021-see-estimated-job-losses-by-state/">A recent analysis conducted by the Economic Policy Institute</a> estimates that without it, Kansas will lose a combined total of 51,700 public and private jobs by the end of 2021.

Cities in Kansas are facing serious revenue shortfalls, as well. <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200624/topeka-city-manager-proposes-cutting-325-jobs">Topeka projects a budget shortfall of millions</a> of dollars and plans to cut jobs. <a href="https://www.nlc.org/sites/default/files/users/user52651/Cities%20Are%20Essential%20Revenue%20Loss_One%20Pager.pdf">The National League of Cities estimates</a>
 that cities across the country will experience $360 billion in revenue 
loss through fiscal year 2022, which will force them to significantly 
cut spending on crucial services or raise taxes on already 
recession-battered residents.

Federal funding is needed 
to help Kansas, along with the local governments within it, in ensuring 
that health care, education, transportation, first responders and other 
services continue uninterrupted. <a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2014/05/30/90621/what-have-we-learned-about-austerity-since-the-great-recession/">Studies on the Great Recession</a>
 found that forcing states to deal with severe budget constraints 
through austerity dampen long-term gross domestic product, prolong 
spells of high unemployment and extend recessions.

As the recession stretches
 into the second half of 2020, it has become increasingly clear that 
states and localities are at the forefront of combating the pandemic and
 its economic fallout.

From keeping students 
enrolled in remote learning programs to equipping community health 
centers with the protective gear needed to safely treat COVID-19 
patients, state and local involvement can be seen and felt everywhere.

It is likely that both the
 coronavirus pandemic and the recession it unleashed are far from over. 
To help ease the financial pressures that states and localities face, it
 is imperative that the federal government pass legislation to support 
them in this unparalleled time.

Back in May, the House 
passed the HEROES Act, which included critical help for Kansans, with 
needed funding for state and local governments, along with money for 
health care and education. The Senate has yet to pass a bill, as 
negotiations between the chambers and the White House stalled. President
 Trump’s <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/27/kansas-officials-to-apply-for-supplement-jobless-benefit-program-launched-by-trump/">recently announced executive actions</a> will do little, if anything, to solve these pressing problems.

When the Great Recession 
hit, the government passed and implemented the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009. This stimulus package included local funding 
and allowed states to address their budget shortfalls. It kept the 
recession from turning into a catastrophe like the Great Depression of 
the 1930s. It prepared the nation for a decade of economic growth.

We need precisely the same kind of assistance now, for precisely the same reasons.

Congress must act to get 
states and localities the aid they so desperately need. Sens. Pat 
Roberts and Jerry Moran, along with Reps. Ron Estes, Roger Marshall, 
Steve Watkins and Sharice Davids, should unite with one voice to do the 
right thing for Kansans.

Our children will pay the price for a lifetime if we don’t get this right.

Through its opinion 
section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who 
are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. For 
information, including how to submit your own commentary, click&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.

Emily Fetsch director of fiscal policy and research at Kansas Action for Children. Previously, she was a researcher at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Public Religion Research Institute and the associate director at the National Religious Partnership for the Environment. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Kansas.

Republished courtesy Kansas Reflector.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599064885984.png" alt="Budget shortfalls faced by the state of Kansas and its municipalities are a crisis that’s playing out in plain sight right now. (Kansas Action for Children)" />
 <figcaption>Budget shortfalls faced by the state of Kansas and its municipalities are a crisis that’s playing out in plain sight right now. (Kansas Action for Children)</figcaption>
 </figure>By EMILY FETSCH <a href="https://www.kac.org/">Kansas Action for Children</a> News comes at us from all 
directions these days, but we can’t ignore a crisis that’s playing out 
in plain sight right now: Budget shortfalls faced by the state of Kansas
 and its municipalities.The plunge in tax revenue 
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to overwhelm our state, 
leading to cuts far exceeding those that defined former Gov. Sam 
Brownback’s tenure. Education, infrastructure and public services are 
all under threat. And the children and families least able to cope with 
the consequences will bear the brunt.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599064969415.png" alt="Emily Fetsch" />
 <figcaption>Emily Fetsch</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Action for Children
 knows that children can thrive when they have their basic needs met. 
Through our tax dollars, Kansans support kids and families who otherwise
 would go without. That’s why budgets matter, from the tiniest town to 
the entire state.Make no mistake, we’re grappling with a once-in-a-century health and economic crisis. <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/states-grappling-with-hit-to-tax-collections">Kansas revenue has plummeted</a>,
 creating a crisis for schools, health care and other critical services.
 The state government experienced revenue declines of more than $800 
million in fiscal year 2020, and revenue declines of a half-billion 
dollars are projected for fiscal year 2021.Unlike the federal 
government, Kansas and other states can’t run deficits. That means we 
either make up that money — through federal aid or state taxes — or 
slash services.But the problem isn’t just with state revenue. We also face an employment crisis. Since the pandemic started, the state has <a href="https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ks.htm">lost 13,100 public sector jobs</a>. The National Education Association has estimated that Kansas could lose <a href="https://educationvotes.nea.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Revised-NEA-Estimates-in-Support-of-the-HEROES-Act-06-06-2020.pdf?_ga=2.17671737.1424969520.1591579607-1012899167.1494591151">roughly 32,100 jobs</a> by the end of FY 2022 as a result of the decline in the state general revenues that fund education.Absent federal action, these job losses could get much worse. <a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/without-federal-aid-to-state-and-local-governments-5-3-million-workers-will-likely-lose-their-jobs-by-the-end-of-2021-see-estimated-job-losses-by-state/">A recent analysis conducted by the Economic Policy Institute</a> estimates that without it, Kansas will lose a combined total of 51,700 public and private jobs by the end of 2021.Cities in Kansas are facing serious revenue shortfalls, as well. <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200624/topeka-city-manager-proposes-cutting-325-jobs">Topeka projects a budget shortfall of millions</a> of dollars and plans to cut jobs. <a href="https://www.nlc.org/sites/default/files/users/user52651/Cities%20Are%20Essential%20Revenue%20Loss_One%20Pager.pdf">The National League of Cities estimates</a>
 that cities across the country will experience $360 billion in revenue 
loss through fiscal year 2022, which will force them to significantly 
cut spending on crucial services or raise taxes on already 
recession-battered residents.Federal funding is needed 
to help Kansas, along with the local governments within it, in ensuring 
that health care, education, transportation, first responders and other 
services continue uninterrupted. <a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2014/05/30/90621/what-have-we-learned-about-austerity-since-the-great-recession/">Studies on the Great Recession</a>
 found that forcing states to deal with severe budget constraints 
through austerity dampen long-term gross domestic product, prolong 
spells of high unemployment and extend recessions.As the recession stretches
 into the second half of 2020, it has become increasingly clear that 
states and localities are at the forefront of combating the pandemic and
 its economic fallout.From keeping students 
enrolled in remote learning programs to equipping community health 
centers with the protective gear needed to safely treat COVID-19 
patients, state and local involvement can be seen and felt everywhere.It is likely that both the
 coronavirus pandemic and the recession it unleashed are far from over. 
To help ease the financial pressures that states and localities face, it
 is imperative that the federal government pass legislation to support 
them in this unparalleled time.Back in May, the House 
passed the HEROES Act, which included critical help for Kansans, with 
needed funding for state and local governments, along with money for 
health care and education. The Senate has yet to pass a bill, as 
negotiations between the chambers and the White House stalled. President
 Trump’s <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/27/kansas-officials-to-apply-for-supplement-jobless-benefit-program-launched-by-trump/">recently announced executive actions</a> will do little, if anything, to solve these pressing problems.When the Great Recession 
hit, the government passed and implemented the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009. This stimulus package included local funding 
and allowed states to address their budget shortfalls. It kept the 
recession from turning into a catastrophe like the Great Depression of 
the 1930s. It prepared the nation for a decade of economic growth.We need precisely the same kind of assistance now, for precisely the same reasons.Congress must act to get 
states and localities the aid they so desperately need. Sens. Pat 
Roberts and Jerry Moran, along with Reps. Ron Estes, Roger Marshall, 
Steve Watkins and Sharice Davids, should unite with one voice to do the 
right thing for Kansans.Our children will pay the price for a lifetime if we don’t get this right.Through its opinion 
section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who 
are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. For 
information, including how to submit your own commentary, click&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.Emily Fetsch director of fiscal policy and research at Kansas Action for Children. Previously, she was a researcher at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Public Religion Research Institute and the associate director at the National Religious Partnership for the Environment. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Kansas.Republished courtesy Kansas Reflector.

OPINION: To avoid disaster for Kan. communities, federal aid needed

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1,328 to a total of 43,940 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1,328 to a total of 43,940 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 458, an increase of 12.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599066289932.png" alt="Wednesday Sept. 2, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Sept. 2, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

WICHITA, KAN.&nbsp;– A Kansas man pleaded guilty Tuesday to distributing child pornography. As part of a plea agreement in the case, prosecutors agreed to drop charges that the defendant threatened the life of the President of the United States, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Aaron McDowell, 25, Salina, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography. Investigators discovered the child pornography while investigating charges that McDowell posted a threat to kill the president on social media.

Investigators examining McDowell’s phone found images of child pornography. They went on to discover that for about a year McDowell used an online chat application to trade child pornography with other users.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 20. The plea agreement recommends McDowell be sentenced to not less than 168 months and not more than 216 months in federal prison.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599061569443.png" alt="McDowell remains jailed in Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>McDowell remains jailed in Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN.&nbsp;– A Kansas man pleaded guilty Tuesday to distributing child pornography. As part of a plea agreement in the case, prosecutors agreed to drop charges that the defendant threatened the life of the President of the United States, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Aaron McDowell, 25, Salina, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography. Investigators discovered the child pornography while investigating charges that McDowell posted a threat to kill the president on social media.Investigators examining McDowell’s phone found images of child pornography. They went on to discover that for about a year McDowell used an online chat application to trade child pornography with other users.Sentencing is set for Nov. 20. The plea agreement recommends McDowell be sentenced to not less than 168 months and not more than 216 months in federal prison.&nbsp;

Kan. man who threatened life of president enters plea deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has issued a directive halting the eviction of certain renters though the end of 2020 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Federal, state and local governments have approved eviction moratoriums during the course of the pandemic for many renters, but those protections are expiring rapidly. A recent report from one think tank, the Aspen Institute, stated that more than 20 million renters live in households that have suffered COVID-19-related job loss and concluded that millions more are at risk of eviction in the next several months.

The administration’s action stems from an executive order that President Donald Trump issued in early August. It instructed federal health officials to consider measures to temporarily halt evictions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed up Tuesday by declaring that any landlord shall not evict any “covered person” from any residential property for failure to pay rent.

Senior administration officials explained that the director of the CDC has broad authority to take actions deemed reasonably necessary to prevent the spread of a communicable disease.

Renters covered through the executive order must meet four criteria. They must:

— Have an income of $198,000 or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers.

— Demonstrate they have sought government assistance to make their rental payments.

— Affirmatively declare they are unable to pay rent because of COVID-19 hardships.

— Affirm they are likely to become homeless if they are evicted.

Officials said local courts would still resolve disputes between renters and landowners about whether the moratorium applies in a particular case.

Brian Morgenstern, a deputy White House press secretary, said Tuesday’s announcement means that people struggling to pay rent due to COVID-19 would not have to worry about being evicted and risking the spread of the disease or exposure to it.

Trump’s Democratic rival, Joe Biden, called on Aug. 1 for Congress to enact a “broad emergency housing support program” to prevent evictions and shore up landlords. Congress enacted an unprecedented $2.3 trillion pandemic rescue package in March that paused evictions in most federal subsidized housing, but that moratorium has expired and Congress and the White House have been in a monthslong stalemate over new relief legislation.

Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said the order will provide relief for millions of anxious families, but added that the action delays rather than prevents evictions.

“While an eviction moratorium is essential, it is a half-measure that extends a financial cliff for renters to fall off when the moratorium expires and back rent is owed,” Yentel tweeted.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has issued a directive halting the eviction of certain renters though the end of 2020 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.Federal, state and local governments have approved eviction moratoriums during the course of the pandemic for many renters, but those protections are expiring rapidly. A recent report from one think tank, the Aspen Institute, stated that more than 20 million renters live in households that have suffered COVID-19-related job loss and concluded that millions more are at risk of eviction in the next several months.The administration’s action stems from an executive order that President Donald Trump issued in early August. It instructed federal health officials to consider measures to temporarily halt evictions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed up Tuesday by declaring that any landlord shall not evict any “covered person” from any residential property for failure to pay rent.Senior administration officials explained that the director of the CDC has broad authority to take actions deemed reasonably necessary to prevent the spread of a communicable disease.Renters covered through the executive order must meet four criteria. They must:— Have an income of $198,000 or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers.— Demonstrate they have sought government assistance to make their rental payments.— Affirmatively declare they are unable to pay rent because of COVID-19 hardships.— Affirm they are likely to become homeless if they are evicted.Officials said local courts would still resolve disputes between renters and landowners about whether the moratorium applies in a particular case.Brian Morgenstern, a deputy White House press secretary, said Tuesday’s announcement means that people struggling to pay rent due to COVID-19 would not have to worry about being evicted and risking the spread of the disease or exposure to it.Trump’s Democratic rival, Joe Biden, called on Aug. 1 for Congress to enact a “broad emergency housing support program” to prevent evictions and shore up landlords. Congress enacted an unprecedented $2.3 trillion pandemic rescue package in March that paused evictions in most federal subsidized housing, but that moratorium has expired and Congress and the White House have been in a monthslong stalemate over new relief legislation.Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said the order will provide relief for millions of anxious families, but added that the action delays rather than prevents evictions.“While an eviction moratorium is essential, it is a half-measure that extends a financial cliff for renters to fall off when the moratorium expires and back rent is owed,” Yentel tweeted.

CDC directs stop to renter evictions to prevent virus spread

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A man who provided massages for female athletes at the University of Kansas will have to face trial on charges accusing him of sexually abusing a young girl, a judge determined Tuesday.

Shawn O’Brien, 49, of Lawrence, was charged in February with indecent liberties with a child based on allegations he had sexually abused the girl multiple times when she was 9 or 10 years old.

Based on the girl’s testimony at Tuesday’s preliminary hearing, Douglas County District Court Judge Sally Pokorny found enough evidence existed to take the case to trial on three felony charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

When the allegations were first reported, the University of Kansas canceled its contracts with O’Brien and began an investigation.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/990450b37100ce9c58d130d217b7d86c">Six university female student-athletes</a>&nbsp;told investigators they had experienced “unwarranted touching” during massages by O’Brien.

Amended charges were filed in July against O’Brien adding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/36836c6e657b6f6ba070d2ad5c712873">six counts of sexual battery</a>, all misdemeanors, involving four individuals. The amended charges do not say if the alleged assaults happened on campus. However, the Douglas County district attorney’s office confirmed that four of the counts are associated with report numbers provided by the university’s Public Safety Office.

Judges do not have to determine probable cause through preliminary hearings for misdemeanor charges, so none of the other alleged victims testified Tuesday.

Defense attorney, Philip Sedgwick, entered not guilty pleas on O’Brien’s behalf.

The girl testified that O’Brien had given her “massages” that started on her head, but he then worked his way down her neck and shoulders to her chest below her shirt and inside her underwear. She said these occurred when she was staying the night at his home, trying to sleep on the living room floor as some of his own children slept nearby.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583523947471.png" alt="Shawn O'Brien-photo Douglas County" />
 <figcaption>Shawn O'Brien-photo Douglas County</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A man who provided massages for female athletes at the University of Kansas will have to face trial on charges accusing him of sexually abusing a young girl, a judge determined Tuesday.Shawn O’Brien, 49, of Lawrence, was charged in February with indecent liberties with a child based on allegations he had sexually abused the girl multiple times when she was 9 or 10 years old.Based on the girl’s testimony at Tuesday’s preliminary hearing, Douglas County District Court Judge Sally Pokorny found enough evidence existed to take the case to trial on three felony charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.When the allegations were first reported, the University of Kansas canceled its contracts with O’Brien and began an investigation.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/990450b37100ce9c58d130d217b7d86c">Six university female student-athletes</a>&nbsp;told investigators they had experienced “unwarranted touching” during massages by O’Brien.Amended charges were filed in July against O’Brien adding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/36836c6e657b6f6ba070d2ad5c712873">six counts of sexual battery</a>, all misdemeanors, involving four individuals. The amended charges do not say if the alleged assaults happened on campus. However, the Douglas County district attorney’s office confirmed that four of the counts are associated with report numbers provided by the university’s Public Safety Office.Judges do not have to determine probable cause through preliminary hearings for misdemeanor charges, so none of the other alleged victims testified Tuesday.Defense attorney, Philip Sedgwick, entered not guilty pleas on O’Brien’s behalf.The girl testified that O’Brien had given her “massages” that started on her head, but he then worked his way down her neck and shoulders to her chest below her shirt and inside her underwear. She said these occurred when she was staying the night at his home, trying to sleep on the living room floor as some of his own children slept nearby.

Massage therapist for KU athletes will face trial on child sex charges

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pressed by Democrats to quickly negotiate a new coronavirus relief package, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday the administration remains willing to work on a bipartisan agreement to help small businesses, the unemployed, children and schools. Democratic leaders in Congress are holding it up with hardened positions, he said.

“Let’s move forward on a bipartisan basis on points we can agree upon,” Mnuchin urged at a hearing by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. “The president and I want to move forward.”

Mnuchin made the case that the economy’s recovery has strengthened in recent weeks, citing improved consumer spending, growth in manufacturing and a rebounding housing market. It’s the failure of some states to reopen activity that is holding back the economy, he said.

But Democrats insisted that dire economic conditions persist for many. “Millions of Americans are now facing eviction, debt and hunger,” said the panel’s chairman, Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. “As the pandemic drags on, states, cities and businesses are warning that more layoffs may be coming.”

The subcommittee’s Democratic staff, meanwhile, said it has identified lapses pointing to possible fraud and abuse in a signature piece of the administration’s relief effort, the $660 billion-plus small business loan program — including more than $1 billion awarded to businesses that received multiple loans.

The staff investigators said in a report that a lack of government oversight and accountability for the program “may have led to billions of dollars being diverted to fraud, waste and abuse, rather than reaching small businesses truly in need.”

With bipartisan agreement, Congress enacted an unprecedented $2.3 trillion pandemic rescue package in March. Now the Trump administration and top congressional Democrats have been in a months-long stalemate over new relief legislation, with the two sides trillions of dollars apart. Lawmakers left Washington for the August recess without an agreement.

The impasse left millions of jobless people without a $600-per-week pandemic bonus unemployment benefit that had helped families stay afloat, left state and local governments seeking fiscal relief high and dry, and held back a more than $100 billion school aid package.

An estimated 27 million people are receiving some form of unemployment benefits, according to the Labor Department, though the figure may be inflated by double-counting by states.

Mnuchin identified additional spending on aid to small businesses as the area where Democrats and Republicans are most likely to agree. In sometimes sharp exchanges, he and Democrats on the panel disagreed over the state of the economy and traded blame for the impasse over new rescue legislation.

Mnuchin pinned the blame on a refusal to compromise by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. While touting the economy’s partial recovery, he acknowledged that “we have more work to do.”

Still, Mnuchin showed some openness to negotiating and even agreed, under prodding from Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., to phone Pelosi right after the hearing.

He said he doesn’t support the Democrats’ position for $2.2 trillion in spending in the next package, which contrasts with Republicans’ stance of $1 trillion. He added, however: “What’s more important is ... getting money to American workers, American families, kids. There are tremendous areas of agreement, and that’s what we should be doing right away.”

“I would publicly say I am willing to sit down at the negotiating table with the speaker with no conditions whatsoever any time,” Mnuchin said.

After talking with Mnuchin Tuesday evening, though, Pelosi released a statement saying, “Sadly, this phone call made clear that Democrats and the White House continue to have serious differences understanding the gravity of the situation that America’s working families are facing.”

Under questioning from Democrats on the panel, Mnuchin again denied any involvement in the hiring of new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

Democrats are looking into how DeJoy was hired as they scrutinize a series of operational changes at the Postal Service that have resulted in widespread mail delays and fears that the agency will not be able to handle an expected surge in mail-in ballots this fall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Democrats also want to learn more about Mnuchin’s role. The Treasury chief met with members of the Postal Service Board of Governors while the selection of the new postmaster general was underway.

Mnuchin said he knew DeJoy, a former supply chain CEO and a top Republican donor, from the 2016 Trump campaign. But he said he had not seen or spoken to DeJoy before he was hired to lead the Postal Service this spring.

“I had no specific conversations with him about that job until the (search) committee updated me that he was one of the finalists,” Mnuchin said. “I was quite surprised when I found out that he was a candidate. Again I had no involvement in that process whatsoever.’’

The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program was a key piece of the government’s economic aid program responding to the pandemic. The nation’s small businesses received a gut punch in the spring as huge swaths of the economy were shut down, millions lost jobs and consumers curtailed spending.

Economists generally credit the small business program with helping prevent the job market meltdown from becoming worse. The loans are forgivable if businesses use the money to keep employees on the payroll or rehire workers who have been laid off.

The program ran from April through early August, awarding about 5 million loans totaling some $520 billion.

The program “is supporting an estimated 51 million jobs, representing 80% of small business payroll in all 50 states and six territories,” the Treasury Department and SBA said in statements when asked for comment on the congressional report. “We worked around the clock and launched the program in record time, under one week, because Americans needed immediate economic relief. Any program of this scope and size will encounter issues, and we have moved quickly to respond as they arise.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599044326494.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Mnuchin during Tuesday's testimony before a House committee-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Mnuchin during Tuesday's testimony before a House committee-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Pressed by Democrats to quickly negotiate a new coronavirus relief package, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday the administration remains willing to work on a bipartisan agreement to help small businesses, the unemployed, children and schools. Democratic leaders in Congress are holding it up with hardened positions, he said.“Let’s move forward on a bipartisan basis on points we can agree upon,” Mnuchin urged at a hearing by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. “The president and I want to move forward.”Mnuchin made the case that the economy’s recovery has strengthened in recent weeks, citing improved consumer spending, growth in manufacturing and a rebounding housing market. It’s the failure of some states to reopen activity that is holding back the economy, he said.But Democrats insisted that dire economic conditions persist for many. “Millions of Americans are now facing eviction, debt and hunger,” said the panel’s chairman, Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. “As the pandemic drags on, states, cities and businesses are warning that more layoffs may be coming.”The subcommittee’s Democratic staff, meanwhile, said it has identified lapses pointing to possible fraud and abuse in a signature piece of the administration’s relief effort, the $660 billion-plus small business loan program — including more than $1 billion awarded to businesses that received multiple loans.The staff investigators said in a report that a lack of government oversight and accountability for the program “may have led to billions of dollars being diverted to fraud, waste and abuse, rather than reaching small businesses truly in need.”With bipartisan agreement, Congress enacted an unprecedented $2.3 trillion pandemic rescue package in March. Now the Trump administration and top congressional Democrats have been in a months-long stalemate over new relief legislation, with the two sides trillions of dollars apart. Lawmakers left Washington for the August recess without an agreement.The impasse left millions of jobless people without a $600-per-week pandemic bonus unemployment benefit that had helped families stay afloat, left state and local governments seeking fiscal relief high and dry, and held back a more than $100 billion school aid package.An estimated 27 million people are receiving some form of unemployment benefits, according to the Labor Department, though the figure may be inflated by double-counting by states.Mnuchin identified additional spending on aid to small businesses as the area where Democrats and Republicans are most likely to agree. In sometimes sharp exchanges, he and Democrats on the panel disagreed over the state of the economy and traded blame for the impasse over new rescue legislation.Mnuchin pinned the blame on a refusal to compromise by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. While touting the economy’s partial recovery, he acknowledged that “we have more work to do.”Still, Mnuchin showed some openness to negotiating and even agreed, under prodding from Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., to phone Pelosi right after the hearing.He said he doesn’t support the Democrats’ position for $2.2 trillion in spending in the next package, which contrasts with Republicans’ stance of $1 trillion. He added, however: “What’s more important is ... getting money to American workers, American families, kids. There are tremendous areas of agreement, and that’s what we should be doing right away.”“I would publicly say I am willing to sit down at the negotiating table with the speaker with no conditions whatsoever any time,” Mnuchin said.After talking with Mnuchin Tuesday evening, though, Pelosi released a statement saying, “Sadly, this phone call made clear that Democrats and the White House continue to have serious differences understanding the gravity of the situation that America’s working families are facing.”Under questioning from Democrats on the panel, Mnuchin again denied any involvement in the hiring of new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.Democrats are looking into how DeJoy was hired as they scrutinize a series of operational changes at the Postal Service that have resulted in widespread mail delays and fears that the agency will not be able to handle an expected surge in mail-in ballots this fall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.Democrats also want to learn more about Mnuchin’s role. The Treasury chief met with members of the Postal Service Board of Governors while the selection of the new postmaster general was underway.Mnuchin said he knew DeJoy, a former supply chain CEO and a top Republican donor, from the 2016 Trump campaign. But he said he had not seen or spoken to DeJoy before he was hired to lead the Postal Service this spring.“I had no specific conversations with him about that job until the (search) committee updated me that he was one of the finalists,” Mnuchin said. “I was quite surprised when I found out that he was a candidate. Again I had no involvement in that process whatsoever.’’The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program was a key piece of the government’s economic aid program responding to the pandemic. The nation’s small businesses received a gut punch in the spring as huge swaths of the economy were shut down, millions lost jobs and consumers curtailed spending.Economists generally credit the small business program with helping prevent the job market meltdown from becoming worse. The loans are forgivable if businesses use the money to keep employees on the payroll or rehire workers who have been laid off.The program ran from April through early August, awarding about 5 million loans totaling some $520 billion.The program “is supporting an estimated 51 million jobs, representing 80% of small business payroll in all 50 states and six territories,” the Treasury Department and SBA said in statements when asked for comment on the congressional report. “We worked around the clock and launched the program in record time, under one week, because Americans needed immediate economic relief. Any program of this scope and size will encounter issues, and we have moved quickly to respond as they arise.”___

Treasury Secretary: Trump still wants virus relief deal 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The woman who federal prosecutors said was “most culpable” in the death of a developmentally disabled Missouri man was sentenced Tuesday to 17 1/2 years in prison on federal charges.

Prosecutors said Sherry Paulo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0a722778d004ebd03f1e7a7a1a6dc015">led a scheme</a>&nbsp;that caused the death of Carl DeBrodie in Fulton and then persuaded others to help cover up his death.

DeBrodie was a developmentally disabled resident of Second Chance Homes of Fulton when he was reported missing in April 2017. His remains were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2ea17980f7b74be6be91ed99eadce23b">found</a>&nbsp;a week later in a storage shed in Fulton but investigators determined he had died months earlier.

During the sentencing hearing Tuesday, federal attorney Julia Gegenheimer said Paulo was “the most culpable person” in the events leading to DeBrodie’s death, The Jefferson City News-Tribune&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2020/sep/01/most-culpable-person-carl-debrodie-death-cover--gets-175-years-prison/839760/" target="_blank">reported</a>.

U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes said Paulo’s case is “one of the most deplorable, depraved and disturbing” he has heard.

He told Paulo that DeBrodie “had the misfortune of being placed with you” and said her sentence was “specific deterrence” to ensure she can never do something like it again.

Paulo’s husband and their two children also have pleaded guilty to federal charges in DeBrodie’s death. Paulo and her husband, Anthony Flores, still face state charges in the case.

They all worked at Second Chance Homes in Fulton when DeBrodie was a resident there. Federal prosecutors said DeBrodie died after months of abuse and being confined to a dark room in Paulo’s house with no running water or fresh air.

He also was not given medication or treatment for his illnesses for months before he died. Paulo told police she watched DeBrodie stop breathing but did not attempt to help him or call for medical help.

She pleaded guilty in November to willfully failing to provide necessary medical care and health care fraud for continuing to submit Medicaid claims after DeBrodie died. Paulo also was ordered to pay the government $106,795 for the Medicaid claims.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman should receive the maximum sentence possible for directing a plan to hide the death of a developmentally disabled man whose body was found encased in concrete, a federal prosecutor said in court filings.

Sherry Paulo, of Fulton, is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday on federal charges of health care fraud and failing to provide medical care to Carl DeBrodie, 31, whose body was found in a storage unit in Fulton in April 2017. Investigators believe he died months earlier.

The maximum sentence on those charges is 17.5 years in prison.

Paulo’s husband, Anthony Flores; their daughter, Mary Paulo; and their son, Anthony R.K. Flores, have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f5e9285af5f64e56981e416349057c04">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to federal charges in the case.

Sherry Paulo and Anthony Flores still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91f235f8c4814bfca456c9e12667d2eb">state charges</a>, including first-degree involuntary manslaughter and abandonment of a corpse.

All four family members worked at Second Chance Homes in Fulton, a home for developmentally disabled residents where DeBrodie lived.

Federal prosecutor Lucinda Woolery wrote in a court memo filed Aug. 21 that Sherry Paulo was a “controlling matriarch” and the family followed her orders in the family and at work.

Paulo withheld medications from DeBrodie beginning in 2015 and did not take him to a doctor from December 2015 until his death, Woolery wrote. She moved him to her home in September 2016 because his condition was so bad “he would lie in bed howling,” according to the memo.

DeBrodie spent his last days in a small basement room with no access to running water, sunlight, or fresh air, according to the memo.

Paulo and her husband each told police that they eventually asked DeBrodie’s housemate to carry him to an upstairs bathroom and place him under running water. Paulo said she watched DeBrodie stop breathing but neither she nor her husband provided medical aid or called for help, according to memo.

Instead, DeBrodie was left in the bathtub until the smell grew too strong.

In her plea agreement, Mary Paulo admitted to helping Sherry Paulo place DeBrodie into a trash can, which was loaded into a wooden crate and filled with concrete. Sherry Paulo, her husband and their son, Anthony R.K. Flores, took the crate to a storage unit, Anthony R.K. Flores admitted in his plea agreement.

The Callaway County medical examiner’s office was unable to determine an exact cause of death but ruled his death a homicide.

Between September 2016 and April 2017, Sherry Paulo lied about DeBrodie’s whereabouts and filed daily reports on his activities. She also submitted false Medicaid claims worth $106,795, Woolery wrote.

Paulo reported DeBrodie missing in April 2017 when Second Chance Homes was about to be taken over by another company. She also told family members to lie to police by saying they saw DeBrodie at a family Easter celebration on April 16, 2017.

Ultimately, an interview with DeBrodie’s housemate led police to his body, the sentencing memo states.

DeBrodie’s aunt, Carol Samson, said in a victim impact statement that his mother and stepfather both died this year. She asked that all the defendants be given maximum sentences and not ever be given access to vulnerable people again.

Paulo’s attorney, Christopher Slusher, filed a sentencing memorandum Tuesday, but it is sealed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574539388449.png" alt="Sherry Paulo" />
 <figcaption>Sherry Paulo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The woman who federal prosecutors said was “most culpable” in the death of a developmentally disabled Missouri man was sentenced Tuesday to 17 1/2 years in prison on federal charges.Prosecutors said Sherry Paulo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0a722778d004ebd03f1e7a7a1a6dc015">led a scheme</a>&nbsp;that caused the death of Carl DeBrodie in Fulton and then persuaded others to help cover up his death.DeBrodie was a developmentally disabled resident of Second Chance Homes of Fulton when he was reported missing in April 2017. His remains were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2ea17980f7b74be6be91ed99eadce23b">found</a>&nbsp;a week later in a storage shed in Fulton but investigators determined he had died months earlier.During the sentencing hearing Tuesday, federal attorney Julia Gegenheimer said Paulo was “the most culpable person” in the events leading to DeBrodie’s death, The Jefferson City News-Tribune&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2020/sep/01/most-culpable-person-carl-debrodie-death-cover--gets-175-years-prison/839760/" target="_blank">reported</a>.U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes said Paulo’s case is “one of the most deplorable, depraved and disturbing” he has heard.He told Paulo that DeBrodie “had the misfortune of being placed with you” and said her sentence was “specific deterrence” to ensure she can never do something like it again.Paulo’s husband and their two children also have pleaded guilty to federal charges in DeBrodie’s death. Paulo and her husband, Anthony Flores, still face state charges in the case.They all worked at Second Chance Homes in Fulton when DeBrodie was a resident there. Federal prosecutors said DeBrodie died after months of abuse and being confined to a dark room in Paulo’s house with no running water or fresh air.He also was not given medication or treatment for his illnesses for months before he died. Paulo told police she watched DeBrodie stop breathing but did not attempt to help him or call for medical help.She pleaded guilty in November to willfully failing to provide necessary medical care and health care fraud for continuing to submit Medicaid claims after DeBrodie died. Paulo also was ordered to pay the government $106,795 for the Medicaid claims.-------KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman should receive the maximum sentence possible for directing a plan to hide the death of a developmentally disabled man whose body was found encased in concrete, a federal prosecutor said in court filings.Sherry Paulo, of Fulton, is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday on federal charges of health care fraud and failing to provide medical care to Carl DeBrodie, 31, whose body was found in a storage unit in Fulton in April 2017. Investigators believe he died months earlier.The maximum sentence on those charges is 17.5 years in prison.Paulo’s husband, Anthony Flores; their daughter, Mary Paulo; and their son, Anthony R.K. Flores, have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f5e9285af5f64e56981e416349057c04">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to federal charges in the case.Sherry Paulo and Anthony Flores still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91f235f8c4814bfca456c9e12667d2eb">state charges</a>, including first-degree involuntary manslaughter and abandonment of a corpse.All four family members worked at Second Chance Homes in Fulton, a home for developmentally disabled residents where DeBrodie lived.Federal prosecutor Lucinda Woolery wrote in a court memo filed Aug. 21 that Sherry Paulo was a “controlling matriarch” and the family followed her orders in the family and at work.Paulo withheld medications from DeBrodie beginning in 2015 and did not take him to a doctor from December 2015 until his death, Woolery wrote. She moved him to her home in September 2016 because his condition was so bad “he would lie in bed howling,” according to the memo.DeBrodie spent his last days in a small basement room with no access to running water, sunlight, or fresh air, according to the memo.Paulo and her husband each told police that they eventually asked DeBrodie’s housemate to carry him to an upstairs bathroom and place him under running water. Paulo said she watched DeBrodie stop breathing but neither she nor her husband provided medical aid or called for help, according to memo.Instead, DeBrodie was left in the bathtub until the smell grew too strong.In her plea agreement, Mary Paulo admitted to helping Sherry Paulo place DeBrodie into a trash can, which was loaded into a wooden crate and filled with concrete. Sherry Paulo, her husband and their son, Anthony R.K. Flores, took the crate to a storage unit, Anthony R.K. Flores admitted in his plea agreement.The Callaway County medical examiner’s office was unable to determine an exact cause of death but ruled his death a homicide.Between September 2016 and April 2017, Sherry Paulo lied about DeBrodie’s whereabouts and filed daily reports on his activities. She also submitted false Medicaid claims worth $106,795, Woolery wrote.Paulo reported DeBrodie missing in April 2017 when Second Chance Homes was about to be taken over by another company. She also told family members to lie to police by saying they saw DeBrodie at a family Easter celebration on April 16, 2017.Ultimately, an interview with DeBrodie’s housemate led police to his body, the sentencing memo states.DeBrodie’s aunt, Carol Samson, said in a victim impact statement that his mother and stepfather both died this year. She asked that all the defendants be given maximum sentences and not ever be given access to vulnerable people again.Paulo’s attorney, Christopher Slusher, filed a sentencing memorandum Tuesday, but it is sealed.

Woman sentenced in death of man found in concrete

BROWN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Tuesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Avenger driven by Terry Robert Rush, 35, Hiram, Georgia, was southbound on U.S. 75 twelve miles south of Fairview attempting to make a U-turn. A southbound 2017 Kenworth semi driven by Edwardo Torres, 60, Eagle Pass, Texas,&nbsp;struck the Dodge.

Rush and a passenger&nbsp;McEwen, Mary Katherine McEwen, 37, Topeka, to Stormont Vail in Topeka where Rush died.

Torres was not injured.&nbsp; All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Tuesday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Avenger driven by Terry Robert Rush, 35, Hiram, Georgia, was southbound on U.S. 75 twelve miles south of Fairview attempting to make a U-turn. A southbound 2017 Kenworth semi driven by Edwardo Torres, 60, Eagle Pass, Texas,&nbsp;struck the Dodge.Rush and a passenger&nbsp;McEwen, Mary Katherine McEwen, 37, Topeka, to Stormont Vail in Topeka where Rush died.Torres was not injured.&nbsp; All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Man dies after crash while attempting U-turn on Kan. highway

TOPEKA —A lightning strike is blamed for a house fire in Topeka.

Just after 5:30a.m. Tuesday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to the report of a fire at a home at 7400 SW 22nd Court. Upon arrival, crews found smoke and fire coming from the attic of the two story wood frame duplex structure, according to&nbsp; Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.

 A search of the duplex revealed that all occupants on both sides of the structure were able to escape prior to fire department’s arrival. 

Firefighters&nbsp;contained the fire to the structure of fire origin with some extension to the adjoining duplex and were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

The preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire was a lighting strike, according to Harrison. The estimated structural damage is listed at $20,000 with an additional $5000.00 in content loss.

Smoke detectors were present but not working within the residence, according to Harrison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599042187595.png" alt="Crews on the scene of the fire blamed for a lightning strike photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of the fire blamed for a lightning strike photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —A lightning strike is blamed for a house fire in Topeka.Just after 5:30a.m. Tuesday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to the report of a fire at a home at 7400 SW 22nd Court. Upon arrival, crews found smoke and fire coming from the attic of the two story wood frame duplex structure, according to&nbsp; Fire Marshal Todd Harrison. A search of the duplex revealed that all occupants on both sides of the structure were able to escape prior to fire department’s arrival. Firefighters&nbsp;contained the fire to the structure of fire origin with some extension to the adjoining duplex and were able to quickly extinguish the fire.The preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire was a lighting strike, according to Harrison. The estimated structural damage is listed at $20,000 with an additional $5000.00 in content loss.Smoke detectors were present but not working within the residence, according to Harrison.

Lightning strike blamed for a fire at Kansas home

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges after a unique traffic stop.

Just after 4:30a.m. Monday,&nbsp; the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a truck parked in the middle of Highway 16 near W. Road. Deputies found the truck running, parked in the middle of the highway and a woman later identified as Marcy Jean Bowen, 37, McLouth, asleep behind the steering wheel, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The deputies also discovered drug a substance believed to be methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. 

Deputies arrested Bowen and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and two misdemeanor drug charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1598965415979.png" alt="Bowen" />
 <figcaption>Bowen</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges after a unique traffic stop.Just after 4:30a.m. Monday,&nbsp; the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a truck parked in the middle of Highway 16 near W. Road. Deputies found the truck running, parked in the middle of the highway and a woman later identified as Marcy Jean Bowen, 37, McLouth, asleep behind the steering wheel, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The deputies also discovered drug a substance believed to be methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Deputies arrested Bowen and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and two misdemeanor drug charges.

Sheriff: Kan. woman was asleep at wheel, parked on highway

SEDGWICK COUNTY A 45-year-old Kansas man who stabbed his roommate to death while police were outside his house has been sentenced to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

Prosecutors said Jason Leigh McCaleb stabbed 28-year-old Devin Andrea Cook up to 50 times in November 2019. The stabbing occurred right after police suggested McCaleb evict Cook if he wanted her out of the home.

Police went to the home after McCaleb called 911 to say he had let her “keep her stuff at his house,” but that she was refusing to leave. At a news briefing after the slaying, police had said officers told McCaleb he had to use legal channels to evict her if he wanted her gone.

Officer were leaving the scene when they heard Cook calling for help but were not able to get back into the home. 

On July 22, McCaleb pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder. He will be eligible for parole in 25 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574616803861.png" alt="MCCALEB photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>MCCALEB photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY A 45-year-old Kansas man who stabbed his roommate to death while police were outside his house has been sentenced to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.Prosecutors said Jason Leigh McCaleb stabbed 28-year-old Devin Andrea Cook up to 50 times in November 2019. The stabbing occurred right after police suggested McCaleb evict Cook if he wanted her out of the home.Police went to the home after McCaleb called 911 to say he had let her “keep her stuff at his house,” but that she was refusing to leave. At a news briefing after the slaying, police had said officers told McCaleb he had to use legal channels to evict her if he wanted her gone.Officer were leaving the scene when they heard Cook calling for help but were not able to get back into the home. On July 22, McCaleb pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder. He will be eligible for parole in 25 years.---------

Kan. man admits stabbing roommate with cops outside

Kansas City (AP) — The scenes have become commonplace in 2020: People gathered at state Capitols with semiautomatic long guns strapped across their chests. 

A couple near St. Louis emerging from their mansion brandishing firearms as Black Lives Matter demonstrators marched by the house. Men roaming the streets with rifles during protests over racial inequality, punctuated by two people being killed in Wisconsin and another in Portland over the weekend.

The coronavirus pandemic, protests against racism and police killings, a rancorous election year and a perception that cities are being overrun by violent mobs have brought about a markedly more aggressive stance by some gun owners and widened the divide over firearms in America.

Americans are turning out more often and more visibly with guns, a sign of the tension engulfing the country.

Last week's arrest of a 17-year-old accused of killing two people in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with a semiautomatic rifle is just the latest flashpoint. Then over the weekend, a caravan of President Donald Trump supporters streamed into Portland, resulting in a clash with protesters in which a supporter of a right-wing group was fatally shot.

The teenager and other gun-toting protesters have been denounced as radical vigilantes who benefit from a double-standard — that if they were Black gun owners brandishing their firearms, the police would use deadly force against them.

To others, they are patriots seeking to bring law and order to cities that have been overtaken by extremists.

“I would have done the same thing, to be honest with you,” Todd Scott, of Covington, Georgia, said of the teenager in Kenosha. He's viewed video of the teen, Kyle Rittenhouse, being chased by protesters and believes he was acting in self-defense.

Scott himself once used his gun to break up violence, becoming a bit of a local hero in 2015 after a gunman killed a clerk and a customer at the liquor store where he was picking up beer. Scott fired on the suspect before he fled.

Kat Ellsworth, who heads the Liberal Gun Owners club in Illinois and who lives in Chicago, is appalled by those who have converged on protests and are openly carrying firearms. She believes those gun owners have been emboldened by Trump, who has made law and order a central part of his re-election bid.

The scenes of primarily white men walking around city streets openly carrying firearms, or of those who have flocked to state Capitols to protest pandemic business restrictions, are a demonstration, she believes, of white privilege. She’s convinced that a group of Black gun owners with AR-15s in public would be dealt with much differently.

“I view them as instigators and I view them as people looking for an excuse to shoot people of color,” said Ellsworth, who is white.

The killings in Kenosha almost immediately opened up a new front in the culture wars over guns. Fox News’ Tucker Carlson called the episode a result of authorities refusing to bring law and order to the city.

“How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?”

Around the same time last week, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who were seen outside their St. Louis home brandishing a rifle and a handgun, were given a coveted prime-time slot at the Republican National Convention, where they defended their right to bear arms.

In the first half of this year, the turmoil has fueled an unprecedented buying spree of firearms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590977417965.png" alt="Protest near the Plaza in Kansas City in May -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Protest near the Plaza in Kansas City in May -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City (AP) — The scenes have become commonplace in 2020: People gathered at state Capitols with semiautomatic long guns strapped across their chests. A couple near St. Louis emerging from their mansion brandishing firearms as Black Lives Matter demonstrators marched by the house. Men roaming the streets with rifles during protests over racial inequality, punctuated by two people being killed in Wisconsin and another in Portland over the weekend.The coronavirus pandemic, protests against racism and police killings, a rancorous election year and a perception that cities are being overrun by violent mobs have brought about a markedly more aggressive stance by some gun owners and widened the divide over firearms in America.Americans are turning out more often and more visibly with guns, a sign of the tension engulfing the country.Last week's arrest of a 17-year-old accused of killing two people in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with a semiautomatic rifle is just the latest flashpoint. Then over the weekend, a caravan of President Donald Trump supporters streamed into Portland, resulting in a clash with protesters in which a supporter of a right-wing group was fatally shot.The teenager and other gun-toting protesters have been denounced as radical vigilantes who benefit from a double-standard — that if they were Black gun owners brandishing their firearms, the police would use deadly force against them.To others, they are patriots seeking to bring law and order to cities that have been overtaken by extremists.“I would have done the same thing, to be honest with you,” Todd Scott, of Covington, Georgia, said of the teenager in Kenosha. He's viewed video of the teen, Kyle Rittenhouse, being chased by protesters and believes he was acting in self-defense.Scott himself once used his gun to break up violence, becoming a bit of a local hero in 2015 after a gunman killed a clerk and a customer at the liquor store where he was picking up beer. Scott fired on the suspect before he fled.Kat Ellsworth, who heads the Liberal Gun Owners club in Illinois and who lives in Chicago, is appalled by those who have converged on protests and are openly carrying firearms. She believes those gun owners have been emboldened by Trump, who has made law and order a central part of his re-election bid.The scenes of primarily white men walking around city streets openly carrying firearms, or of those who have flocked to state Capitols to protest pandemic business restrictions, are a demonstration, she believes, of white privilege. She’s convinced that a group of Black gun owners with AR-15s in public would be dealt with much differently.“I view them as instigators and I view them as people looking for an excuse to shoot people of color,” said Ellsworth, who is white.The killings in Kenosha almost immediately opened up a new front in the culture wars over guns. Fox News’ Tucker Carlson called the episode a result of authorities refusing to bring law and order to the city.“How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?”Around the same time last week, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who were seen outside their St. Louis home brandishing a rifle and a handgun, were given a coveted prime-time slot at the Republican National Convention, where they defended their right to bear arms.In the first half of this year, the turmoil has fueled an unprecedented buying spree of firearms.Every month so far has smashed last year’s numbers of background checks. In a few instances, the number of background checks have soared past previous records set by a background check system that began in 1998.So far this year, nearly 23 million background checks have been conducted, though not all checks were for firearm purchases. Still, the gun industry estimates that 40% of firearm purchases have been made by first-time buyers, or about 5 million people.Ed Turner, a former police officer from metro Atlanta who now owns gun shops in Georgia, said he cringes seeing people openly carrying firearms. If someone is truly worried about their own safety, he said, concealing the weapon is “a much better approach than walking around like John Wayne.”Among the people flocking to his gun shops, he has seen mostly women, African Americans and Latinos concerned about their personal safety and buying a firearm for the first time. He considers their concerns justified amid calls to “defund the police" and riots that have some cases led to police stations being attacked.“I am stunned that that behavior is allowed to go on,” he said.Gun-control activists have viewed the situation in Kenosha, as well as the other protests that have drawn people openly carrying firearms, as a direct result of Trump's firebrand rhetoric.“It is because of an extreme world view that has been only encouraged at the highest levels of government, and by the gun lobby that has condoned their presence there,” said Nick Suplina, the managing director of law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety. “The presence of armed militia at these protests are not there merely to protect property but are there to intimidate protesters, to chill speech and sometimes worse."